Course Listings

Sociology

SOC 315 Social Movements, Collective Action, and Protest (1)

The course examines the theoretical frameworks used by sociologists to explain and understand collective action, protest, and social movements in society, as well as how these theories are used to answer fundamental questions about these phenomena. Topics addressed include resource mobilization, political opportunity and political process, framing, and new social movements. Critiques of theory are also examined, in particular those emphasizing the failure of mainstream theories to account for culture, their emphases on the experiences of only the U.S. and Europe, and the difficulty of applying theory to the prediction of future collective action. Case studies are examined throughout the course, with the final one-third of the semester dedicated specifically to Latin American social movements,

Prerequisite:SOC 201 or any 100-level Sociology course, or consent of instructor.